The seven deadly sins of the Left

The political divide in America is not over party, or even policy disagreements. The almost constant banter, fighting and disagreements stem from something much deeper. Just over a decade ago, President Obama declared that he wanted to “fundamentally transform the United States” — a uniquely bold statement. A mission that extended far beyond the usual politician’s platform — into education, customs and culture.

The last fifteen years of American politics and culture-wars have been about that Obama-articulated religious-like quest to fundamentally transform America, the eventual effort to stop it, and the Trump-lead push-back. 

The relentless quest of the Left is a cult-like ideological push. It’s not merely about winning an election, or even enacting laws. It’s a fundamentally transformative mission. Like any such movement, it has characteristics and behaviors that are an integral part of it. It’s these characteristics of the Left that advance its insatiable passion for control, power and ultimate victory — in laws, regulations, court decisions, education, media and our societal customs. 

To fundamentally transform the United States, these are the Left’s characteristics  — their seven deadly sins.

Arrogance. More than anything else, their entire ideology, mindset and outlook on life and society is built on this: they know more than anyone. Ever. No one knows more about science, economy, climate, society, culture, education and morality than today’s self-described progressives. 

Not only are they “right,” but almost every society before theirs is lacking or backwards. Especially western cultures, stemming from or based in Europe or North America. 

And being “progressives,” they alone are allowed to change their outlook on sex, genders, science or morality in an hour, a week, a year or five years. And, they expect — demand — that you acquiesce to their new “correctness.” They have even empowered themselves to invent new definitions, standards and words — or, to redefine words. One’s failure to follow renders you immoral — subject to immediate cancellation.

Moreover, they cannot possibly comprehend that anyone — let alone conservative or even liberal Americans — could rightly believe as strongly in their own beliefs, customs or values. 

No debates: They are the sole arbiters of what’s correct. If you persist in denying that they’re correct, you must be bigoted, sexist, patriarchal, homophobic — or a Nazi or a fascist. 

Violence. From the recent attacks in Cincinnati, to the “summer of love” riots of 2020 and 2021, to antisemitic harassment, rallies and even murders, and even the murder of a health insurance CEO — let alone blocking traffic, vandalizing works of art and looting Apple stores, the Left has decided to participate-in, support or justify violence in the name of their causes. Because after all, their causes are not only correct; they’re an imperative.

Neither the Constitution, the rule of law nor American cultural norms matter. There are no limits or boundaries. 

The Left has taken the Woodstock-era approach of “having to understand the criminal” to its almost unfathomable radical conclusion. Today’s Leftists not only attempt to explain the traditional crimes, they also justify the violent crime of fellow “victims” as political expression.

From Governor Walz’s wife talking about how she “opened the windows to smell the tires burning” in 2020, to left-wing politicians and commentators justifying the shooting of United Healthcare’s CEO, to defenses of the violent “rallies” on college campuses chanting “from the river to the sea,” it’s now commonplace for the Left to commit acts of violence as part of their causes. Because they’re right, we must pay attention and they must get their way.

Envy. Whether talking to recent college graduates with student debt who can’t afford a home, the latest grievances of the newest LGBTIA+ groups, or anyone feeling disappointed — even for unrealistic desires, the Left will readily explain that one’s shortcomings are due to: “the rich” not being taxed enough, a male-dominated patriarchy, or other inherent failures of the United States. Like all adherents to Communism or Socialism, it’s essential to instill class warfare. Plus, they build on that to foster envy and hatred. They create unlimited groups of “victims” — and lay it all at the feet of America. 

Fearmongering. From the climate crisis, to racial injustice, from labeling Republicans as Nazi’s to campaigning to “protect Democracy,” the Left has decided that the best way to win elections, and impose their values is to label their causes as “crises.” Teach children that the planet is melting — because of their parents and society’s bad behavior. As a result, they must act — now. Crises demand action. (And, of course, justify violence.)

Dishonesty. “Honesty is not a leftwing value,” so preaches Dennis Prager. Why? Because they’re on a mission; they’re correct and it’s a crisis. The ends justify the means. In fact, they demand it.

They can even claim that under Biden, the border was secure. Gaslighting is an essential tool. They can even feign outrage on demand over Texas-GOP’s redistricting taking a page from California Democrats. 

Transference. All too often whatever they accuse the GOP of doing, they’re doing right in front of us. Violence. Lying. Redistricting. Blocking free speech. Undermining elections. Listen to the accusation — and then think about their actions and words, from Covid to campuses.

Misery.  They believe all the crises; live in fear and hatred — of course they’re miserable. They are fearful of the future. Look at the national surveys. If one believes: America is bigoted and run by Nazis, the planet is melting, the rich are stealing from the poor, and democracy is in danger: you’d be miserable, too. 

Guy Ciarrocchi is Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy